Awards Season: Golden Globe Noms Released

The Golden Globe nominations can be weird sometimes due to the fact that they split up movie awards into comedy/musical and drama and also because of the way they combine supporting awards on TV...and also because they are voted on by the foreign press. Sometimes the nominees can make you go..huh? Like this year with Breaking Bad not getting a nomination for Best TV Drama.

But while they aren't perfect, the Globes are still a good barometer to see what will come with the Academy Award nominations. This years nominees are pretty great, especially in the Best Actor - Drama category for film:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Georege Clooney, "The Descendants"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"
Michael Fassbender, "Shame"
Ryan Gosling, "The Ides of March"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

The rest of the movie nominees:

Best Motion Picture - Drama

"The Descendants"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"The Ides of March"
"Moneyball"
"War Horse"

Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

"50/50"
"The Artist"
"Bridesmaids"
"Midnight in Paris"
"My Week with Marilyn"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Tilda Swinton, "We Need To Talk About Kevin"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

Jodi Foster, "Carnage"
Charlize Theron, "Young Adult"
Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
Michelle Williams, "My Week with Marilyn"
Kate Winslet, "Carnage"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Joseph Gordon Levitt, "50/50"
Ryan Gosling, "Crazy Stupid Love"
Brendan Gleeson, "The Guard"
Owen Wilson, "Midnight in Paris"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Kenneth Branagh, "My Week with Marilyn"
Albert Brooks, "Drive"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Viggo Mortensen, "A Dangerous Method"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best Director - Motion Picture

Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
George Clooney, "The Ides of March"
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

"Midnight in Paris"
"The Ides of March"
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Moneyball"

And the TV nominees:

Best Television Series - Drama

"American Horror Story"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Boss"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"

Best Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

"Enlightened"
"Episodes"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"New Girl"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"
Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Mireille Enos, "The Killing"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Madeline Stowe, "Revenge"
Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Laura Dern, "Enlightened"

Zooey Deschanel, "The New Girl"

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Laura Linney, "The Big C"

Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

David Duchovny, "Californication"

Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"

Thomas Jane, "Hung"

Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

"Cinema Verite"

"Downton Abbey"

"The Hour"

"Mildred Pierce"

"Too Big to Fail"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Romola Garai, "The Hour"
Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite"
Elizabeth McGovern, "Downton Abbey"
Emily Watson, "Appropriate Adult"
Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Idris Elba, "Luther"
William Hurt, "Too Big To Fail"
Bill Nighy, "Page Eight"
Dominic West, "The Hour"

The 69th Golden Globes will be held on Sunday, Jan. 15.

Awards Season: SAG Nominations Released

The SAG awards were released on Wednesday morning and there are some surprises among this years crop.

Best ensemble cast
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

Interesting fact: "No film has won Best Picture without a SAG nomination in 15 years.." Should make the rest of the awards season very interesting.

Best actor
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best supporting actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best supporting actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

TELEVISION

Best ensemble cast in a comedy
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

Best ensemble cast in a drama
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife

Best actress in a comedy
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Best actor in a comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Steve Carell, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best actress in a drama
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best actor in a drama
Patrick J. Adams, Suits
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter

The awards will air on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 on TNT.

And Just Like That...Summer is Upon Us

Big ups for warm days, long nights, the beach, beers and bbq's.
Definitely go see "Super 8" this summer. Imagine a mix of "The Goonies," "Close Encounters," "E.T." and "Stand By Me," filled with great story, suspense, mystery, wonder and fucking dopeness.
Watch a season of a TV show you missed over the year this summer. I recommend this one. Or this one.
Have fun at the movies this summer. Pick one: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (June 29), Horrible Bosses (July 8), Captain America: the First Avenger (July 22), 30 Minutes or Less (August 12).
Watch some good television this summer. It's called "BREAKING BAD."
Also good on TV this summer: "White Collar" (USA), "Falling Skies" (TNT), "Real Time With Bill Maher" (HBO), "Entourage" (HBO), "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (HBO).
Go to a baseball game this summer. Or two. Or three. Or four. Go to one in a city where you're not from. Like this one.
If you've never watched "The Godfather" before in your life, watch it this summer.
....Or do nothing. Fuck it, it's summer right?

Awesome Steve Carell Film Adds Some More

Steve Carell's awesomely titled project "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" has just added a few new cast members. According to Variety the post-apocalyptic romantic comedy, which reportedly stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, has picked up additional members such as Adam Brody, Rob Corddry and William Peterson.

From Variety:

William Petersen, who's been extremely selective in choosing feature roles since leaving "CSI," is in negotiations along with "Scream 4" star Adam Brody and Rob Corddry to join Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Mandate Pictures' "Seeking a Friend at the End of the World."

In addition to writing the script, Lorene Scafaria is making her directorial debut on the project, which finds an incoming asteroid threatening to end life on Earth.

Carell stars as a man whose wife leaves him amidst the ensuing panic, prompting him to seek out his high school sweetheart, who yearns to be with him when doomsday arrives. Knightley plays the female lead, a neighbor of Carell's character who accompanies him on a romantic road trip to find her.

Brody just signed on to star in the indie "Hemlock Drive" with Susan Sarandon. He next stars opposite Greta Gerwig in Whit Stillman's "Damsels in Distress," and has also wrapped Julian Farino's indie dramedy "The Oranges."

The film is still in the early stages but having Steve Carell, Keira Knightley and Adam Brody in the same film is just dopetacular.

Michael Mann, Paul Haggis Find "Gold"

Although his name may not come to mind as quickly as let's say Scorcese when thinking of the best director's in Hollywood, there's no doubt that Michael Mann is one of the top helmers working.

Through his career he has made some amazing films including "Heat," "The Last of the Mohicans," "Manhunter" and "The Insider" and for one of his next projects the great director is teaming with one of Hollywood's best filmmakers.

According to Heat Vision Mann ("Heat") and Paul Haggis ("Crash") are teaming for the contemporary thriller "Gold."

Described as being in the vein of Bogart classic "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre," the story revolves around a ruthless search for the precious metal. Haggis was initially drawn to the script, but other projects took his attention.

TV producers Patrick Massett and John Zinman ("Friday Night Lights") wrote the script and the plan now is to develop and package the project, with Mann directing and Haggis producing.

While no actors are attached at this time this project has a boat load of potential. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" is one of the best films of all time and combining the talents of Mann and Haggis to bring this story to fruition is just a dream come true. Mann has shown through his career that no matter the location, story or subject matter, he can bring out some amazing performances and this film should have no shortage of dramatic moments.

Mann has worked with some big named stars in the past, including Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp, Daniel Day Lewis, Tom Cruise and more, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see someone with some start power in the main role.

While the film is still in the early stages more news should come about in the next few months.

Joshua Jackson To "Lay the Favorite"

If you look at Joshua Jackson and still see Pacey Witter from "Dawson's Creek,"you might have a few problems. On top of the fact that you are stuck in the wrong decade, you've totally missed out on some of the most enjoyable TV work in a while. "Fringe" is one of the best shows on TV, and while John Noble and Anna Torv are both great on the show, Jackson is just as good, bringing some emotion and brooding rage to the table.

Jackson has had a very solid career since his "Dawson's Creek" days, but while working on "Fringe" he hasn't been able to do much film work apart from "One Week" and "Shutter," but that’s about to change.

The actor is attached to the adaptation "U.F.O." and according to Variety Jackson is in talks to star in Stephen Frears' "Lay the Favorite" for Pathe and Emmett Furla Films reports Variety.

Based on Beth Raymer’s bestseller "Lay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling", the story charts her rise from lowly Vegas cocktail waitress to one of the top sports gambling bookmakers. After falling in love, Raymer soon begins to re-evaluate her life and the profession she has chosen. Rebecca Hall and Bruce Willis also star.

Frears is one of Hollywood's most underrated directors, having worked on such great films as "High Fidelity," "The Queen" and "Dirty Pretty Things" and should bring a great eye to this project. He is very versatile and has worked on all types of genres in his career, including comedies, dramas and biopics.

Jackson joins an already strong cast with Willis and Hall, who gave a great performance last year in Ben Affleck's "The Town" and should bring some emotional depth to the project.

D.V. DeVincentis (”High Fidelity,” “Grosse Pointe Blank”) adapted the script and shooting aims to kick off in New Orleans in the coming weeks.

Doug Liman Seeks Cast For Moon Project

Sometimes when a film project falls into development hell, it's impossible to get it out, but when they do, sometimes the results can be amazing. For example the "Batman" franchise was stuck in development hell for years until Christopher Nolan totally kicked ass with "Batman Begins," and now it seems another director is trying to work his magic on a project stuck in the depths.

According to The Hollywood Reporter "The Bourne Identity" director Doug Liman's long-in-development sci-fi feature at Paramount Pictures may have escaped development hell.

The story centers on a renegade group of former space employees, led by an Eastern European woman, who travel the world, stealing space equipment in an attempt to go back to the moon to acquire an energy source. The last item to steal is an ever valuable ex-NASA employee.

A few years ago the project had a chance at some life at Dreamworks with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star, but interest in the project cooled over time. Liman pursued other films while the script received rewrites from Ken Nolan, Mark Bowden and Simon Kinberg. The site reports that interest is swelling, and that the project could start shooting by as early as the end of the summer.

The biggest piece of the puzzle comes with casting. Liman has met with a crop of talented young actors for the project, including Andrew Garfield, Emile Hirsch and Chris Pine for the male lead, while Rosario Dawson, Megan Fox, Rachel McAdams, Eva Mendes, Zoe Saldana and Olivia Wilde have all had meetings about the female lead.

Once any casting becomes official, this film could get the go ahead and move along quickly. I really hope it does, because when I first heard about the project I thought it was infinitely interesting, and with that crop of actors meeting with Liman, this could be a huge project down the line.

Science fiction and space exploration films have become very trendy these days, with projects like "Skyline," "Battle: Los Angeles," "District 9" and "Super 8" all gracing theaters.

While development hell has consumed many of a project, lets hope this one that makes it out alive.

Brendan Fraser Has A "Whole Lotta Sola"

The past year or so hasn't been all that kind to Bredan Fraser. He starred in two pretty awful movies, "Furry Vengeance" and "Extraordinary Measures," and also starred in a Broadway production of "Elling," which closed after only nine performances due to lackluster reviews. Obviously, not the best run of luck for the actor who is best known for starring in "The Mummy" franchise.

While Fraser isn't one of Hollywood's "best" actors, the man has proved over time that he has a load of potential. He was great in the 2002 film "The Quiet American" and say what you will about "The Mummy" trilogy, but the first film was flat out great.

Fraser will next be seen in the Steve Carell film "Crazy Stupid Love" and he just recently joined another brand new project as well. According to Variety, Fraser will star in Terry George's comedic heist film "Whole Lotta Sola."

The script from George and Thomas Gallagher centers on a young man who plans to rob a fish shop to pay off his gambling debts. However, his plan goes awry, leading to an unexpected hostage situation. Fraser will play the shopkeeper who is on the run from his gangster father-in-law.

One reason this project is a step in the right direction for Fraser is due to the fact that George is directing. This could turn out to be a run-of-the-mill hostage film, but George has proven over his career he is not the run-of-the-mill director. George directed "Hotel Rwanda" from his own script and directed "Reservation Road," both of which were excellent emotional dramas.

While the comedy theme will be a change up for George, having Fraser may turn out to be a great bit of casting if he can tap into that comedic charm that at one time made him a box-office star.

The film will shoot later this year in Northern Ireland.

Mandy Moore, Rodrigo Santoro Are "Falling Slowly"

Although she first made her bones as a pop singer, I think Mandy Moore was always best suited in the acting game. Sure, she's not an Academy Award winner, but in nearly every role throughout her career she's been solid.

I thought she was excellent playing herself on the second season of "Entourage," in the emotional drama "A Walk to Remember" as well as in the comedy "Licensed to Wed," even though the film wasn't all that great overall. Moore recently voiced the main character of Rapunzel in the animated film "Tangled" and has now signed on for a live-action project.

According to Variety, Moore and Rodrigo Santoro have joined the cast of the supernatural drama "Falling Slowly."

"Buried" writer Chris Sparling makes his directorial debut on the film, which follows the story of a couple whose apartment is haunted by a dark presence. Julie Snyder will produce the project.

While the plot description is sparse right now, the reason I think this project has some potential is because of the involvement of Chris Sparling. Sparling took one of the most bare bones ideas and turned it into quite the fantastic film with last year's "Buried," which starred Ryan Reynolds. In that movie, the entire film takes place inside a wooden coffin after Reynolds finds himself buried alive with only a lighter, flask, flashlight, knife, glowsticks and a mobile phone to help him escape before the oxygen in the coffin runs out.

Depending on what Sparling decides to do here, this film could take a tried and true story of a couple with a "spooky, haunted" apartment and make something great out of it. Moore also should be able to show off her range in this film, as it obviously isn’t much of a comedy.

Dates haven’t been set yet, but the film should start production later this year.

"Arrested" Creator Is "The Boss Of It All"

With the "Arrested Development" film in constant flux, creator Mitch Hurwitz has found a great way to kill his time before that film starts production (if it ever does): direct a movie.

According to The Wrap "Arrested Development" creator Mitch Hurwitz is set to direct a remake of Lars von Trier’s Norwegian comedy "The Boss of it All" for Universal Pictures.

The story centers on an IT company that hires an actor to serve as the company’s president in order to help sell the business. Turns out the current boss pretended there was another boss above him so it would be easier to break bad news to employees. When he sells the company and the new owner wants to meet that boss, he has to hire a failed actor to play him, and obviously hijinks ensue

Hurwitz is signed on to direct, with Imagine's Brian Grazer and Ron Howard executive producing. Emma Forrest is attached to write the screenplay.

The project has been in development for a year and while like "Arrested Development" no sure filming timetable is set, this project is perfect for Hurwitz. "Development" is one of the smartest and funniest television shows of all time and Hurwitz should bring a similar style to this as well.

Hopefully this is another step in the "Arrested Development" film getting done. If Hurwitz can turn this into a winner there may be a chance that "Arrested" could finally get seriously into production, because that would be a dream come true.

Either way this film sounds hilarious in itself and Hurwitz should have no trouble finding a way to create some laughs.

The Academy Awards Are Tonight!

Best Picture

"The King's Speech," "True Grit," "Inception," "The Social Network," "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "The Kids Are All Right," "Toy Story 3," "127 Hours," "Winter's Bone"

Breakdown: It's really hard to argue against any of these nominees, but it's clearly a two-horse race between "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network," although it wouldn't be a major surprise at all to see box-office favorite "True Grit" pick up the award.

Who Should Win: "The Social Network." There's just something about this movie that I can't shake. David Fincher's directing, Aaron Sorkin's writing, Trent Reznor's score, and the acting of Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake all combine together to create what in my opinion is the best all around movie of the year. While some people have called the film "The Facebook Movie," it's really about much more than Facebook. It's about culture and the generation we live in now.

Who Will Win: "The King's Speech." At the beginning of awards season, it looked as if "The Social Network" could not be stopped. It seemingly was winning every critics award imaginable and was starting to have the feel of an Oscar lock. But the race got interesting late in the game as "The King's Speech" started to rack up awards and after winning the award for director Tom Hooper from the DGA, the historical drama looks to be the front-runner.

Snubs: "The Town." While I think "Winter's Bone" is completely deserving of its nomination, Ben Affleck's Boston crime drama easily could have slid in to (what was most likely) the tenth slot.

Best Director

David Fincher ("The Social Network"), Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech"), Darren Aronofsky, ("Black Swan"), David O. Russell ("The Fighter"), Joel and Ethan Coen ("True Grit")

Breakdown: It's hard to argue with any of the five nominations in this category, but it's a two-horse race again, this time with Fincher and Hooper. Both films, "The Social Network" and "The King's Speech," have enjoyed high praise everywhere, and if one of these two didn't win the award, I would be surprised. While the Coens have past pedigree in the category, I think it's between Hooper and Fincher.

Who Should Win: David Fincher has directed some truly great films in the past, including "Seven," "Fight Club" and "Zodiac," and I think he made the best picture of the year in "The Social Network." It should be his award.

Who Will Win: Fincher has it. His film and his work on it have earned widespread praise and although Hooper won the DGA Award (making him sort of a frontrunner), I still think Fincher will pull away with it.

Snubs: Christopher Nolan! "Inception," In one of the most glaring snubs in recent memory, Nolan was shut out of this category again (after another snub for "The Dark Knight). Conspiracy theories abound, but I think the reason for the snub is because some voters just didn't understand "Inception" (which means they are dumb), but whatever the reason, he deserves to be miffed. Hopefully with "The Dark Knight Rises," Nolan will get his due.

Best Actor

Colin Firth ("The King's Speech"), Jeff Bridges ("True Grit"), Jesse Eisenberg ("The Social Network"), James Franco ("127 Hours"), Javier Bardem ("Biutiful")

Breakdown: While all five actors gave amazing performances, this feels like its Firth's award to lose. He won the Golden Globe and his performance has been unanimously praised for its realistic portrayal of a character suffering from a stammer. Both Franco and Eisenberg were fantastic, and if not for Firth, either of them would be deserving.

Who Should Win: Whenever an actor is nominated two years in a row for Best Actor, I think that is truly an amazing accomplishment. Both Firth and Bridges pulled it off this year (Bridges won for "Crazy Heart" last year, while Firth was in "A Single Man") and while I think Bridges was great as Rooster Cogburn, it's Firth's year.

Who Will Win: Firth is the frontrunner and he will take it home.

Snubs: You name it. From Robert Duvall of "Get Low" to Ryan Gosling of "Blue Valentine" to Mark Wahlberg of "The Fighter." All three have legitimate beef with the Academy, but I can't argue with any of the five nominated. That said, Gosling was exceptional.

Best Actress

Annette Bening ("The Kids Are All Right"), Natalie Portman ("Black Swan"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone"), Nicole Kidman ("Rabbit Hole"), Michelle Williams ("Blue Valentine")

Breakdown: Another category that seems as if it's down to two nominees: Annette Bening and Natalie Portman are the frontrunners. Portman was previously nominated as a supporting actress for 2004's "Closer" and Bening has been nominated four times without winning.

Who Should Win: I thought both Bening and Portman were fantastic, but I think it's Portman who should win this year, because "Black Swan" totally fell on her shoulders and she was great in it. It was a physically and mentally demanding role, she took it head on--and she nailed it.

Who Will Win: While I think Portman could easily take this, I actually think the Academy will finally call on Bening for the first time.

Snubs: Hailee Steinfeld of "True Grit." I should call this the "Sort Of Snub." While I think it's great that she was nominated for Supporting Actress (which she has an actual chance to win), her character was more of a leading role, and I think she deserved a nomination for Best Actress, although I understand the voters reasoning.

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale ("The Fighter"), Geoffrey Rush ("The King's Speech"), Jeremy Renner ("The Town"), Mark Ruffalo ("The Kids Are All Right"), John Hawkes ("Winter's Bone")

Breakdown: While obviously every Oscar category is "deep" in the sense that the nominees are all deserving, this category is probably the strongest of any from top to bottom this year. While Bale was a knockout in "The Fighter" and is the front-runner, in any other year each four of these actors could take home the award. Ruffalo gave an amazing performance in "The Kids Are Alright,"and while I don't think he'll win this year, he was fantastic.

Who Should Win: I do think Bale was amazing, and he should win the award, but for the sake of it, and because I am a huge fan, I'll say John Hawkes should win. He has been spinning great performances for years (including in "Deadwood" among many others) and after seeing "Winter's Bone," I was floored by his performance.

Who Will Win: Bale is the frontrunner and after a slew of great career roles, he deserves this award.

Snubs: Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield ("The Social Network"). Each snub shows just how much voters liked "Winter's Bone," which I admit I was a fan of, as well. Although I loved Hawkes in the film, I think both these actors could have received a nomination. Timberlake was great and Garfield was even better--he played the emotional and sympathetic center of the year's best film.

Best Supporting Actress

Melissa Leo ("The Fighter"), Amy Adams ("The Fighter"), Helena Bonham Carter ("The King's Speech"), Hailee Steinfeld ("True Grit") Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom")

Breakdown: When a film has two nominations in one category, it says a lot. While Carter gave an amazing performance, as did Weaver, it seems to be Leo's award to lose (apart from her strange Oscar campaign photos).

Who Should Win: Steinfeld was amazing in "True Grit" and based on pure performance, she should win.

Who Will Win: Leo most likely will take home the award for her loud and realistic portrayal of boxer Micky Ward's mother.

Snubs: Mila Kunis ("Black Swan") and Julianne Moore ("The Kids Are All Right"). Both were absolutely deserving but were shut out in a strong year for the category. Kunis was great in "Black Swan" and has a definite gripe here.

Other thoughts and observations:

-Snub: Lee Smith - Editing - Inception. Come on, that last act when the movie is jumping through three different levels of dreaming isn't Oscar worthy? Please.

-I hope Christopher Nolan wins for Best Original Screenplay for "Inception." The film was fantastic and do you get a script more original than that? Don't think so.

-Snub: Daft Punk - Score - Tron: Legacy. I'm probably biased because I am a Daft Punk fan, but their electronic and transy soundtrack to the new "Tron" film definitely deserved a nomination. But if Trent Reznor loses the award, it's an injustice.

-I don't care if they thought the film wasn't that great overall, but "Tron: Legacy" getting shut out of an Effects Oscar just doesn't make sense.

The Academy Awards air tonight on ABC.

Wentworth Miller Goes "Analog"

Back when "Prison Break" first premiered, lead actor Wentworth Miller looked like a superstar in the making. The badass shaved head, the solid acting--it just seemed to me like he had the chance to break out in a big way. That never happened for Miller, although "Prison Break" did end up lasting for four seasons, which is something to be proud of, I guess.

Either way, Miller didn’t do much with his star chance, so it's great to see him headlining a new project, even if it is a small one. According to Variety, Miller is attached to star in the $3 million indie dramedy "Analog."

The story follows an introverted genius who tries to find a love connection in an increasingly digital world. Mike Million ("Tenure") directs from his own 2005 Black List screenplay.

Maybe I have a soft spot for Miller because he went to high school in my neighborhood, but either way, I really think he is a solid actor and perhaps this film could lead him to doing more movies in the future. The simple premise of the film sound very unique and the fact that the script was on the Black List is a huge plus for the project.

Brendan McDonald is producing with shooting potentially ready to start this summer in Michigan.

Binoche, Amlric Enter The "Cosmopolis"

David Cronenberg hasn't directed a feature film since 2007's "Eastern Promises," which makes his next feature "Cosmopolis" all the more exciting. On top of the fact that it's based on Don DeLillo's excellent novel, the film's cast is shaping up extremely nicely.

According to C7nema, French actors Juliette Binoche and Mathieu Amalric ("Quantum of Solace") have joined the cast of Cronenberg‘s upcoming adaptation.

Based on the novel by Don DeLillo, the story follows a day in the life of newly married billionaire Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson) as he cheats on his wife, is pursued by a stalker (Paul Giamatti), gets attacked by a protester and gradually loses his entire fortune over the course of a single day.

DeLillo's book is really interesting and while I thought the story would be very hard to adapt to film, I think Cronenberg is a director who is totally up to task. While he hasn't helmed a film in a few years, his past few films have been nothing short of excellent, especially Cronenberg's 2005 film "A History of Violence," which starred Maria Bello and Viggo Mortensen.

The supporting cast of "Cosmopolis" is superb and deep, with Giamatti and now Binoche and Amalric, who was amazing in "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" a few years ago.

Production on the film is aiming for a start on May 24th in Toronto.

Richard Kelly Visits "Corpus Christi"

Whether you loved it or hated it, if you saw "Donnie Darko," you have to admit that Richard Kelly has a distinct and unique skill and vision when it comes to film. He isn't conventional and while some of his films were a bit muddled, like "Southland Tales," for example, his projects at least make audiences think outside "The Box."

Kelly, in fact, last directed the previously mentioned "The Box" and for his next project, he will work on something a bit more conventional. According to Variety, Kelly will next write and direct the contemporary thriller "Corpus Christi," which will be co-financed through his own company, Darko Entertainment.

The Texas-set project will be a foray into a more traditional narrative for the "Donnie Darko" director, with the story concerning a mentally unstable Iraq war veteran who forges a strange friendship with his boss, the wealthy and politically ambitious owner of a supermarket chain.

While the plot of the film sounds a bit strange, this will be Kelly's first film without heavy science-fiction effects or elements. I was a big fan of "Donnie Darko," I thought it was a strange and totally original idea, and I thought what Kelly did with time travel was fresh and pretty intelligent. Although I wasn't as big of a fan of "Southland Tales" or "The Box," I was always curious at what Kelly could do on a more conventional film, and it looks like we'll all have a chance to see that.

Kelly's unique skill set should be well suited for this film and it will be interesting to see how he tackles the idea of having the main character be a mentally unstable war veteran.

Kelly, Eli Roth and Sean McKittrick will produce and shooting will kick off on location in July. Casting is under way and an announcement is expected within the next month.

Danny Boyle Tries "Sharp" Werewolves

The director/writer team of Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy has proven to a successful formula in recent years. The two scored Oscar gold for their work on "Slumdog Millionaire," and this past year they lent their talents to the Oscar-nominated "127 Hours," so it's not a surprise that they would want to work together again.

According to the site InContention, who spoke with Beaufoy, the writer said that he's working on a film adaptation of Toby Barlow's werewolf-themed poem “Sharp Teeth,” which Boyle may direct.

The story follows a trio of werewolves in East Los Angeles. Characters include a lawyer with ambitious plans to takeover the city, a dogcatcher and loner who falls for a beautiful and mysterious woman, and a detective investigating dog-related murders.

In the article, Beaufoy explains that he has been taking ridealongs with LAPD officers in Compton and Watts for research. Boyle himself is currently working on a soon-to-open stage adaptation of "Frankenstein."

If only because of their track record, anything these two work on together is something worth being interested in, but beyond that, I think the story would be something Boyle would love to tackle.

He has worked on numerous types of films in his career, including the drug-fueled "Trainspotting," the horror/survival film "28 Days Later," and the science fiction film "Sunshine." This type of film would be another way for Boyle to show off his signature creativity and style.

No release date is set yet, but look for news in the coming weeks.

Levy Helms "Fantastic Voyage" Remake

Director Shawn Levy is still putting the finishing touches on his robot boxing film "Real Steel," but that hasn't kept him from lining up his next possible job. According to Deadline, Levy has been tapped to direct the James Cameron-produced 3D remake of the sci-fi classic "Fantastic Voyage" for 20th Century Fox.

Based on the 1966 film, the voyage revolves around a team of scientists who are shrunk to atomic size and sent in a miniature submarine inside the body of a scientist to save his life.

The film has been in development for awhile with director Paul Greengrass attached last year, but when he left, it became one of the most wanted open spots in the industry. A whole crop of names, including Darren Aronofsky, Timur Bekmambetov, Jonathan Mostow and Louis Leterrier met with Cameron about the gig, but it looks as if Levy is his man for the job. Shane Salerno penned the script, which Laeta Kalogridis performed re-writes on it.

While Levy doesn't seem like the most obvious choice of the crop for an action film due to his background in comedy with films like "Cheaper By the Dozen" and "What Happens in Vegas," Levy has recently shown he is looking to broaden his horizons. His upcoming film "Real Steel" is a science fiction/action/sports story and Levy also has signed on for another action/adventure picture with Fox.

This film could be a huge success due to the subject matter and James Cameron's involvement. We all saw what he could create with 3D imagery and technology in "Avatar," so I can only imagine what he'll do with the inside of a human body.

With Levy at the helm this could play well to general audiences and turn out to be a big hit down the line.

Gerard Butler Goes Surfing In "Mavericks"

Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I've always thought that Curtis Hanson was one of Hollywood's most underrated directors. Hanson won an Oscar for his writing-work on "L.A. Confidential," which is easily one of Hollywood's best films in the past 20 years, and he has directed some excellent films in the past including "Wonder Boys," "8 Mile" and "The River Wild."

Hanson doesn’t work all that often (he hasn't directed a feature film since 2007's "I'm Lucky"), so whenever he does direct something, it has my attention. His next project is a surfing film that sounds quite interesting, and it also has just added a leading man.

According to Deadline, Gerard Butler ("300") is set to play Rick "Frosty" Hesson in Hanson's upcoming surfing feature "Mavericks" for Walden Media.

The fact-based story follows the late Jay Moriarity and his quest to ride the iconic Northern California break known as Mavericks, where winter swells bring in treacherous waves the size of five-story buildings. Moriarity trained for over a year under Hesson, a friendship that transformed both their lives. Moriarity, who died in 2001 in a diving accident in the Maldives, remains an inspiration to surfers around the globe.

While Butler has lent his talents to a bunch of awful romantic comedies, his work in "300" and "RocknRolla" was solid and this could be a good chance for him to show off his dramatic talents. Hanson recently directed the HBO financial crisis drama "Too Big To Fail" and should be very enthusiastic about his first feature since 2007.

Hanson's work on "L.A. Confidential" truly was something great and I think this film could be a surprise hit.

Shooting is expected to kick off in October.

Judi Dench, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Garner Have "Better Living Through Chemistry"

In a short period of time Jeremy Renner has proved to be one of the industry's best acting talents. Anytime you are nominated for Oscars in consecutive years, there is no doubt that you are one of the Hollywood elite. Last year, he lost Best Actor to Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart" for his work in "The Hurt Locker," and this year he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Ben Affleck's "The Town."

Renner is keeping himself busy as well, starring in both "The Avengers" as Hawkeye and as the new face of the "Mission Impossible" franchise in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol." As if that weren't enough, it looks as if he just added another job to his busy schedule.

According to Variety, Renner, Judi Dench, Jennifer Garner and Michelle Monaghan have all joined the cast of the indie drama "Better Living Through Chemistry."

The $8 million dollar project follows a straight-laced small-town pharmacist stuck in a loveless marriage who rediscovers himself through an affair with a wild, drug-experimenting trophy wife. David Posamentier and Geoff Moore penned the script and are co-directing.

This film sounds like a classic independent drama and that's a good thing. The cast is great--Dench is an acting legend and Garner, Monaghan and Renner are some of Hollywood's best young talents. While Monaghan doesn't have the pedigree of Renner, she has given some excellent performances herself through the years, including in "Gone Baby Gone" and "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang."

Garner has been a personal favorite of mine for years because I was such a big fan of "Alias," but she has proved over the years to be a solid actress.

The cast makes this film a project to watch and could be one of those largely under-the-radar indie hits.

Felipe Marino, Joe Neurauter and Keith Calder will produce the film while shooting will start in August.

Abigail Breslin, Julianne Moore Bite Into "Innocence"

With "Twilight" so successful, there has been an influx of vampire-themed films the past few years in Hollywood. While many of them haven't been great, such as "Daybreakers" and "Vampires Suck," the films have potential to take a tried and true genre and turn it on its head, much like "Let Me In," the remake of the Swedish film "Let the Right One In."

According to Variety, another vampire novel is getting the adaptation treatment, with Abigail Breslin and Julianne Moore teaming up for the gothic vampire thriller "Innocence."

The story follows a recently bereaved teenage girl who finds herself the focus of everyone's attention at her elitist private school, which is home to a nest of vampires. The story is adapted from the original novel of the same name by Jane Mendelsohn.

While this film could easily turn into a "Twilight" copycat, the fact that Breslin and Moore are attached is a huge positive sign for the project. Both actresses have been nominated for Academy Awards (Moore multiple times) and Breslin, along with actresses like Chloe Moretz and Haliee Steinfeld, has proved that some of Hollywood's most talented actors are just kids.

"Innocence" could turn out to be a surprise hit considering it's talent and interesting plot. Shooting will kick off late this summer.

Tom McCarthy Pens "Million Dollar Arm"

Back in 2000, while still toiling around public school somewhere, I had my first interaction with filmmaker and actor Tom McCarthy.

He had a small role in "Meet the Parents" as the soon-to-be son in-law of Robert De Niro and for some reason I can't quite understand till this day, I thought he was the funniest thing in it. Maybe it was something about the timing in a couple of his lines, but either way, the point is that afterwards I looked up his name in the credits, and from then on I was a McCarthy fan.

I soon learned that on top of acting, McCarthy was quite a writer and director as well, with his 2003 film "The Station Agent" and then later on in 2007 with "The Visitor." He also lent his talents to the development of the screenplay for "Up," so clearly the man has talent.

His upcoming film, "Win Win," is getting good early buzz, so it's great to hear that McCarthy has just picked up another writing gig. According to The Hollywood Reporter, McCarthy is set to pen "Million Dollar Arm" for Walt Disney Pictures.

The story is based on the inspirational tale of how sports agent J.B. Bernstein discovered professional baseball pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel from over 40,000 contestants through an Indian reality show. Patel and Singh became the first athletes from India to sign professional baseball contracts when joining the Pittsburgh Pirates.

McCarthy’s is set to pen the project next, but as of yet there's no word on a director or whether he would be up for the job himself.

Whether McCarthy writes or directs the film, it sounds as if it should be an inspiring one, much like Disney's other sports films, such as "Secretariat." The story behind the two players is truly fascinating, even for people who aren't baseball fans.

While I think this type of story would be a great project for McCarthy to direct, just the fact that he is contributing the screenplay is a huge step in the right direction.